Mesoscopic dielectrics

This paper describes four unsolved theoretical problems in ferroelectrics a nd related dielectrics with high permittivities: (1) finite size erects in thin films and small particles, and their relationship to depolarisation fi elds; (2) nucleation and growth kinetics, and especially the recently disco vered coherent nucleation of small domains in front of advancing walls; (3) low-temperature quantum erects in ferroelectrics and the process of 'freez e-out', in which domain wall mobilities suddenly drop to zero; (4) self-pat terning of nanoscale assemblies on the surfaces of substrates, and the cons ideration of lateral finite size erects.